Promark Hot Rods

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They're not necessarily something that I would use on a regular basis, but they are a life saver for certain situations.

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I've used these for years, and they're vey useful for situations in which brushes might not be enough, but sticks are too loud. For a "bundle" type stick, the articulation is actually quite good.

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I started playing with a rockabilly/jump swing group, and I use these for that country style "train" beat and they allow for more punch than brushes, but it's not as harsh as sticks.

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Hot Rods are the standard bundle stick, generally, and fit their purpose pretty well. However, there are now better options. The best, in my opinion, is the Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand. They, unlike Hot Rods, have a foam core. The grip is also more comfortable. The end result is a bundle stick with MUCH better rebound and feel. They are also WAY more durable than Hot Rods. Now, if you don't like Vic Firth, and/or spending money, there is also the option of making your own bundle sticks. You can get the foam core, dowels, and thin PVC (Or maybe even Duct Tape?) really cheap at a hardware store. It's pretty easy. Anyway, get HotRods if you want but know your options. NOTE: If you're playing in a Pit (as I once experienced) and need a quieter option than regular sticks, you may be tempted to use bundle sticks. Don't. Rolls, rim clicks, and multi-sticking settings, as well as general articulation / sound on drums, are all important elements that bundle sticks of ANY kind don't do at all. Get Vic Firth SD5 (Echo Sticks) instead. They are real sticks with a huge taper, making sound balance easy without sacrificing those other things. They are a good alternative to bundles in many. many situations. OK, thanks. Happy hunting.

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These are great for quieter situations. I use them all the time for church and for playing small gigs with my jazz group. They work very well. Some things to keep in mind: You can't really play rolls with them. Just don't have the bounce of real sticks. To play rim knocks, you will need to switch to a normal stick in your snare hand. Also, they will get more attack and less ring from the drum than regular sticks (which is fine for quieter situations.) The tiny sticks they are made up of will tend to break over time but I'd say they last about as long as a normal stick. These do enable you to play fairly fast and hard and still keep the volume down. Overall, very useful, and I definitely recommend them.

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